Read about the exciting lifestyle of a young reporter battling the odds in a crime-ridden environment. See some exciting photos that made it into publication despite their horrific content. Book title – The Story Never Ends, A Memoir of a Newspaper Reporter. Read the series of reviews on the book in this website. On sale now!

Ever think of taking a leisurely motor trip along old highway 99? There are some fun places to see, to shop, and to enjoy some refreshments. And there are some new things that are happening along old highway 99. You’ll read about it in a soon-to-be published article in the Oregonian. Watch for it.

THERE ARE FEW MALE OR FEMALE HOME COOKS WHO FIND THEIR DOMESTIC COOKING DUTIES WORTHY OF THE DESCRIPTION, “CHEERY ” OR EVEN “PLEASANT”. THAT IS SAD. WHY? BECAUSE NOTHING IS MORE SATSIFYING THA N BRINGING PLEASURE TO YOUR LOVED ONES THROUGH THE ART OF COOKING. SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU ADVANCE IN THIS LIFE BY HOW MUCH YOU KNOW BUT I FEEL IT IS HOW WELL YOU COOK.

I WILL SOON TELL YOU THE STORY OF HOW COOKING IMPROVED THE LIFE OF AN ACTION-SEEKING JOURNALIST WHO LIVED DAILY BY UNENDING DEADLINES. ………….

Polyester pantsuits. Space travel. Telepathic communication. Anything can become a topic of conversation at a Toastmasters meeting.

Founded in 1904, with more than 3 million members having joined since, the organization is designed to sharpen public speaking skills. Through prompts, on-the-spot “Table Topics,” speech evaluators and positive reinforcement (awards!), Toastmasters members improve speaking skills in a sociable, supportive and often funny environment.

At a recent meeting, Toastmasters members lit up the room with a shared positive energy and brief, witty speeches, despite the earliness of the hour. Though 7:30 a.m. meetings might not immediately appeal to night owls, this may well be the best way to wake up on a Thursday morning. (The elegantly displayed coffee, tea and pastries help, too.)

Toastmasters meetings adhere to a strict schedule, which helps if you have a job to go to. Each meeting is smoothly executed by members who fill roles on a voluntary basis: the Toastmaster greets the gathered members and provides the “thought for the day”; the Presiding Officer keeps the meeting on track, and invites each speaker to the podium; the Timer keeps the speakers under their time limits; the Grammarian alerts speakers to grammar or elocution flubs with the use of a loud clicker; and various Evaluators offer praise and constructive criticism to the speakers. The whole thing runs like a well-oiled machine, and the pace is such that the meeting never drags.

The University Club of Portland has played host to a chapter of Toastmasters International since 2005, and new members are always welcome. Besides the inevitable improvement in one’s public speaking, the organization offers more concrete incentives to its members: individual clubs can accrue points by recruiting new members, earning awards, completing manuals, and organizing contests and events, among other things. Points can be redeemed for items in the Toastmasters International shop catalogue. There’s also the prestige of being named a Distinguished Club, Select Distinguished Club or—honor of honors—President’s Distinguished Club.

The University Club of Portland chapter of Toastmasters International has a lot to offer prospective members. Whether you seek to improve your public speaking skills for work, for weddings, or just for witty banter, this club is the place for it. If you are a member of the University Club, consider dropping in on a Toastmasters meeting. You can even bring a spouse or a friend! Guests are welcome, however membership is open only to University Club members and their partners. Hear, hear!

T. W. Burger, former staffer at the Harrisburg Patriot-News, for ROCKtheCAPITAL blog:

“I wish I’d had him as a boss somewhere along the road as I was learning the trade. I like to think I was pretty good. Joe would have made me better.”

and

“From the beginning, he was in it for keeps. Working as an undercover informant reporting on the capital city’s underworld was an assignment that easily could have led to his death.”

and

“In 1950, the paper sent him upstate to witness the electrocution of two men in the state’s electric chair. The experience sickened and infuriated the young reporter.”

and

“He discovered, with the help of a contact in the city police department, that county authorities were taking children away from people on welfare and giving the kids to farmers to use as labor. Joe found it was apparently true, at least at one farm, and had his story. Or would have, but the farmer claimed Joe and his photographer had invaded his privacy (he hadn’t Joe said) and got the county district attorney on his side. Joe’s editor dropped the story like a hot potato.”

and

“In 1953, he uncovered the identity of a serial killer who had been killing truckers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a story that won him and the paper a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize.”

and

“Two years later he exposed the existence of gangs in the state prison system, and followed that by exposing a federal cover-up by reporting that six soldiers present at nuclear bomb tests in the American Southwest had suffered eye damage because of the tests. The feds had always held that nobody was hurt in the “safe” nuclear weapons testing.”

and

“The ‘A-Bomb’ story was Joe’s last big scoop for the Harrisburg paper. He was on his way to a long and successful career at the Oregonian and Northwest Magazine in Portland, where he brought the latter national recognition and provided nurture for a number of authors who went on to literary success.”

“An engrossing, insightful look into the world of journalists, investigative reporting and office politics.”

The Catholic Sentinel:

“As a news man Bianco became known as a zealous investigator of society, politics, race, and the common guy. Writing in a time of societal upheaval, he refused to take no for an answer. . .It’s a tale for journalists, of course, but also for an regular person with curiosity, tenacity and dreams.”

The Klamath Falls Herald and News:

“[Bianco’s] told many stories, some that earned him national awards for investigative reporting, some that illuminated people and lifestyles in all phases of life for readers. He’s interviewed gangsters (like Mickey Cohen), a future president (Ronald Reagan) and people like the late Reub Long (the Sage of Fort Rock).”

“Reading this book is a little like sitting down with Joe and shooting the breeze might be—friendly, engaging and fun. He’s obviously a high-energy man with an insatiable curiosity and drive. He’s a maverick who’s not afraid to take chances, a tactic that served him well and also caused him a lot of trouble with conservative editors.”

Barbara Curtin, The Statesman Journal:

“Bianco was best known as the editor of The Oregonian’s Northwest Magazine, which published work by then-emerging writers including Barry Lopez and Ivan Doig.”

Allen Clausen, Northwest Examiner:

“His memoir strings together stories that trace his rise from self-taught (he never took a journalism course) cub reporter to a notable muckraker and successful editor.”

Jeff Baker of The Oregonian selected The Story Never Ends for a 2011 guide to the six best Northwest holiday books, and noted the author’s “long, distinguished career in journalism.”

I will be speaking, as well as exhibiting, at the 2012 Wordstock book festival, which runs October 13-14 at the Portland Convention Center.

Watch here for more posts and updates regarding the scheduling at Wordstock. I will be giving a talk and probably participating in panel discussions, in addition to manning my exhibit.

This year I’m exhibing my most recent book, The Story Never Ends: A Memoir of a Newspaper Reporter. I may also have my Italian cookbook there, which has been receiving good reviews on Amazon. My cookbook is in its third printing, and has had wide reception since its first printing in 1977!

“…damned entertaining and engaging. Whom will it help? Anyone who is a writer, or who has ever dreamed of being a writer will be inspired by this book. Any individuals who have ever thought about giving up, because it’s just too hard to make it in their chosen career (whatever that field of endeavor may be) will learn hope and courage from reading (the) amazing stories of ingenuity and sticktoitiveness.”